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Cuba trip misses the boat

Posted on March 23, 2016 by moc

For my money President Obama’s trip to Cuba this week—the first such trip by a sitting U.S. president in nearly 90 years—is an empty gesture at best and an embarrassment at worst. Would someone please get me a president who does not begin foreign visits by explaining how rotten our country is and why we have no business criticizing others.

I think all restrictions on travel and trade between the United States and Cuba should have ended decades ago, if ever put into effect at all. One of the nice things about free trade is that you don’t really have to like the people you’re trading with. You’ve got something they want, they’ve got something you want, and you leave politics, religion, and the Great Pumpkin out of it.

The Brothers Castro, who are now laughing at their 11th consecutive U.S. president, run a prison. It’s not a utopia, it’s not a workers’ paradise, it’s not a communist dreamland. It’s a place where people are literally dying to get out.

If the good citizens of Cuba want to make cheap products for me to buy, I’d let them. If they want to offer me vacation rentals, I’d let them. I wouldn’t pretend it’s a pleasant place any more than some other Third World country that might have a nice beach.

I’m ready for a U.S. president to say our nation’s laws and customs are morally superior to those of our trading partners, but that’s okay because we’re also less petty and juvenile.

And I’m staying at Resort de Trump Havana when it opens.

Tourney never disappoints

Posted on March 21, 2016 by moc

Well, they don’t call it March Predictable.

Amidst all the upsets and near-upsets we find comfort in the continuity of chaos, do we not? And that delicate struggle between wanting to see something amazing and wanting to keep our brackets intact?

Hanging by a thread is how I’d describe mine.

Think I’m gonna take this week off.

Commence Spring Break!

There’s got to be a morning after

Posted on March 18, 2016 by moc

When the first real day of the NCAA Tournament falls on St. Patrick’s Day you can be pretty sure very little work is getting done after about noon.

Topped only by the lack of work done the next day before noon.

The real shocker from yesterday

Posted on March 16, 2016 by moc

Trump winning Florida?

Coulda guessed that one.

Florida Gulf Coast University defeats Fairleigh Dickinson?

Saw that one a mile away.

The glove (as in O.J.’s) doesn’t fit?

Duh.

The real news from yesterday?

It’s official. Straight from Disney.

Indiana Jones.

Numero Cinco.

Let the Madness begin

Posted on March 14, 2016 by moc

I think the world of sports could take a cue from the world of politics (never thought I’d say that) and offer write-in ballots to our NCAA Tournament brackets.

I’m writing in Monmouth as the #11 seed in the South over Wichita St. and Vanderbilt, hoping for a brokered convention when those delegates are counted.

Champ Week

Posted on March 11, 2016 by moc

Why it’s called Champ Week these days and not Championship Week I could not tell you. (Shorter hashtag?)

Regardless, the week leading up to the NCAA Tournament remains one of the best weeks of the sports year.

Most of all it’s fun to see who’s in what conference these days.

Making things right

Posted on March 9, 2016 by moc

Dear Monmouth Hawks:

I sincerely apologize. That was me jinxing you the other night and I was wrong. Please accept my concession.

Dear Syracuse Orange (nee Orangemen, team of my youth):

If you do not win this afternoon I think Monmouth’s got your at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.

And I’ll be fine with that.

This is a good time to be alive

Posted on March 7, 2016 by moc

I’ll admit that after one episode of Season Four of House of Cards I was a bit disappointed. I’d thought the magic was finally gone and I was watching just another show worthy of about a third-rate cable station, one that somehow combined the worst elements of The West Wing and your average soap opera or dime store novel.

Oh, Netflix, you always prove me wrong.

I am now into Season Four and I must say once again I am into it. The folks at Netflix and HOC Inc. are not resting on their laurels and subscription dollars.

Speaking of great TV, that now makes three shows I am currently watching, unheard of in 2016. These days you’ve got Better Call Saul, The People v. O.J. Simpson (which just gets better and better with what’s happening in real life), and the aforementioned HOC. Add in Archer beginning later this month and you’re set for Spring. What is this the 1990s? (And I mean that in a good way.)

But first, tonight, as a little appetizer… Monmouth playing for a spot in the NCAA Tournament? This is a good time to be alive.

From the sad to the sublime

Posted on March 4, 2016 by moc

One of my two best friends in the world has a birthday tomorrow. He’s the little boy who calls me “Daddy” and tomorrow he’s turning two. He doesn’t know it, but I’m sure he’ll be happy about all the attention.

And cake.

I was told there’d be cake.

Anniversary is the worst

Posted on March 2, 2016 by moc

It’s been a full decade since the worst day of my life: March 2, 2006, the day my best friend was killed in an automobile accident at the age of 23.

For reasons I can’t explain or perhaps wish to remain ignorant to, the pain of that day somehow feels worse now than it did the day it occurred. For years I’d always thought it would sort of fade or eventually go away.

Nope. I’ve actually become more mad about the day and its consequences every year since. My best explanation is that 10 years living without someone is even worse than 10 years of imagining living without someone. That’s about it.

I like to think even a sad post should end on something positive… so, yeah. I’ve made friends over the past 10 years. Even better, my two best friends actually live with me these days.

And the thing I always tell myself: my life sort of worked out anyway.

You know, despite being born with every advantage in the world.

As one given much, however, I am cursed with wanting everything, and some things you just can’t have. And that is why today’s anniversary is the worst.